The
awards will be distributed to 13 minority-serving institutions to
develop and enhance educational programs and hands-on learning experiences
for students in atmospheric, environmental, oceanic sciences and remote
sensing technologies.

The
EPP program, in its third year, also provides funding to cooperative
science centers, and undergraduate scholarship and graduate sciences
programs to support educational and research opportunities.

“This
educational initiative is a special partnership between NOAA, several
academic institutions and the public-private sector aimed at preparing
the next generation of students to pursue careers, advanced academic
studies, and new opportunities in the NOAA sciences,” said retired
Navy Vice Admiral Conrad
C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans
and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.

The
University of Alaska will engage students in internships and environmental
science training opportunities including conducting a community
watershed planning demonstration project in collaboration with NOAA
and other partners.

The
other EEP recipients are:

Program
Development & Enhancement:

Barry
University, Miami Shores, Fla. - $250,000 to develop environmental
science research, educational and hands-on training opportunities
for students in partnership with NOAA programs and other governmental,
academic and research partners.

Florida A & M University, Tallahassee, Fla. - $249,955 to train
students in interdisciplinary educational and research experiences
in the area of environmental measurement and modeling to determine
ecological impacts of several pollutants on the Apalachicola River
ecosystem in collaboration with NOAA.

Florida
International University, Miami, Fla. - $245,150 to engage undergraduate
students in hands-on environmental science research projects, experiences,
and internships at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center and other
partner institutions.

Clark
Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga. - $249,980 to enhance its atmospheric
and environmental science programs through curriculum enhancement;
research experiences; site visits and internship opportunities at
NOAA laboratories and facilities.

Elizabeth
City State University, Elizabeth City, N.C. - $249,591 to provide
undergraduate students with instruction, hands-on training and research
experiences in the study of protected species behavior using remote
sensing technologies in collaboration with NOAA programs.

The
City College of the City University of New York - $249,972 to enhance
students’ knowledge and skills in coastal, oceanic, environmental
and remote sensing by enriching curriculum, engaging students in
research projects and visits to NOAA laboratories and facilities.

The
University of Texas in El Paso, Texas - $242,570 to promote, recruit
and train graduate and undergraduate students in environmental science
through curriculum enhancement, outreach, hands-on research, internship
and training in collaboration with the El Paso Area Forecast Office
of NOAA’s National Weather Service.

Environmental
Demonstration:

California
State University, Fresno, Calif. - $299,646 to train students in
deepwater marine habitat mapping and climate research, through internship
and research opportunities, in collaboration with NOAA’s National
Marine Fisheries Science Center.

Texas
A & M University, Kingsville, Texas - $300,000 to provide academic
and applied research training for students in an environmental demonstration
project that includes assessing the impact of urbanization on coastal
bays and estuaries in South Texas in collaboration with NOAA.

The
University of Hawaii-Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii - $281,809 to train
students in watershed assessment, coastal water quality management
and related environmental issues in collaboration with the NOAA
Hawaii Sea Grant Extension Program.

The
University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Md. - $299,363
to train students in the development of a production and planting
business for submerged aquatic vegetation as a basis for restoring
and mitigating the Chesapeake and Maryland coastal bays.

NOAA
is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through
the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events
and providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and
marine resources.